Death Toll Over 46,000 in Aftermath of Powerful Earthquake Catastrophe in Southern Turkey, Syria

The Muslim world extends its deepest and most sincere condolences to those nations and families who are suffering the devastating losses caused by the catastrophic earthquakes that seized Turkey and northern Syria. 

The two devastating earthquakes, centered in Kahramanmaras and impacted more than 13 million people across 10 provinces in Turkey including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa. In the Syrian city Aleppo, blocks of buildings in the once industrial and commercial hub, were reduced to rubble. The number of injured in both countries has been estimated at 15,000. Sadly, these totals continue to rise.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first earthquake occurred in Turkey on Feb. 6 at around 4:17 am (0117 GMT) at a depth of about 18 kilometers (11 miles)in Kahramanmaras, near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, with a population of two million people.

Rescue efforts were exacerbated by frigid winter weather conditions and a blizzard that covered  major roads in ice and snow. The earthquakes made three major airports in the area inoperable, further complicating deliveries of vital aid, as reported by NDTV, adding that a famous mosque dating back to the 13th century partially collapsed in the province of Maltaya, along with a 14-story building with 28 apartments that housed 92 people.

 The Turkish Foreign Ministry has stated that more than 10,000 foreign workers from 74 countries have joined the sobering work amidst the catastrophic destruction, with another 200,000 search and rescue personnel assisting in the field.

In northern Syria, still struggling to recover from the massive destruction of years of bombing and intense urban fighting between Syrian government forces and rebel holdouts in the city of Aleppo, the earthquakes’ destruction echoed the tragic devastation of those years, that saw tens of thousands of deaths and vast numbers of the population displaced to countries around the globe.

After more than 10 years of war, the Syrian people are feeling anguish at the now exacerbating conditions of [what some are calling] a ‘natural disaster’ adding such catastrophic suffering to their traumatic burden, stated Armenak Tokmajyan, a non-resident fellow at Carnegie Middle East who is originally from the city, to the Associated Press. The hope that the people embraced for an improvement of their desperate conditions has been shattered.

The tragic events that have engulfed the people of Turkey, Syria and to a lesser degree Cyprus and Lebanon, have once again brought forth the compassion and sympathy of the entire world. In fact, ‘Mankind is the family of Almighty God”, and this credo is most evident in these extremely difficult instances where such a tremendous loss of life and massive, widespread destruction has occurred.

In seeking to understand these devastating events, we turn to the Holy Quran, the final Divine Revelation given to the Last Holy Messenger of Almighty God, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). We find that Allah, our Almighty Creator metes out these events that some call ‘natural disasters’ for meaningful reasons. 

First, these disasters are the punishment of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala for those people who are disbelievers (in His existence as the One Almighty Creator)and/ or cross His Limits, defying His Authority in arrogant disobedience. Second, disasters are warnings for sinners and all humanity displaying the fact that He Alone has power over all things. And  disasters are a sobering test for the believers, as well as all those who survive.

As documented in the Holy Quran, it happens that some calamitous disasters are very intense and destroy even the innocent people living in the affected area. These innocent people will receive their reward from Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgment for the affliction they faced.

Almighty Allah says: “And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong [but it may afflict all the good and the bad people], and know that Allah is Severe in punishment. (Al-Anfal 8:25)

As Muslims, we realize that Almighty Allah has complete control over the existence of all humankind and every aspect of life – He is our Benevolent Creator and Lord of all He has created. The obligation of humanity is to live in peace, enjoining what is good and forbidding evil, as ordained by the precepts and Divine laws promulgated for millenia through the Holy Messengers (peace be upon them all) sent to guide, instruct, warn and convey glad tidings for those who accept the Guidance. 

The global community of humankind much join together to halt the oppression, injustice, immorality and slaughter of innocents worldwide, repent, and seek the path of peace for all. May Almighty Allah, grant ease and relief to those who have been touched by this tremendous calamity, and grant all His continuous mercy and forgiveness.